Pioneer today announces a new “Smart Mute” feature for the Rayz and Rayz Plus Lightning earphones, along with new Rayz Plus colours - Black and Rose Gold - which are available exclusively at Apple.com and at Apple Retail stores worldwide. Rayz Plus are the first and only Lightning earphones with an inline charging node that allows you to charge the iPhone and listen to music or talk at the same time. Rayz Plus uses Apple's newest Lightning audio technology, powered by Avnera Corporation's LightX platform and aims to provide simple and smart solutions for today's mobile consumers.

“Smart Mute” Feature
This new feature for Rayz and Rayz Plus automatically mutes the microphone when a user is not speaking and unmutes the microphone when the user begins speaking again. This is ideal when taking calls in noisy environments. Users can get Smart Mute by downloading the latest Rayz app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on the App Store and performing a Rayz software update.

"Rayz appcessories were launched with a commitment to deliver new compelling experiences for our customers through future software upgrades using the Rayz companion iOS app" said Munenori Otsuki, CEO of Pioneer and Onkyo Corporation. "In keeping with this commitment, we are pleased to announce Smart Mute today, a feature that will enable truly compelling call experiences."

"We are very pleased to have worked closely with Pioneer to be the first to bring Smart Mute to market. Smart Mute is one of several smart technologies being developed actively by Avnera which leverages Avnera’s breakthroughs in low power analog audio circuits and digital signal processing technologies." said Manpreet Khaira, CEO of Avnera Corporation.

New Colour Options Available Exclusively at Apple Stores
Customers are now able to purchase the Rayz Plus in Black or Rose Gold, available exclusively at Apple.com and Apple stores worldwide.

Key features of Rayz Plus are included below, with more information at www.pioneerrayz.com:

Smart Noise Cancellation: adapts its noise cancelling to your ear and the world around you.

No Battery: Powered by Lightning.

Talk and Charge: The only earphone that allows you to talk and charge while plugged into the Lightning port.

AutoPause: technology automatically pauses your movie or music when you take Rayz out and restarts when you put them back on.

Smart Button: bring up your favorite app, mute/unmute calls, or launch the Rayz controls with a simple press of the button.

iOS App: An integral part of the Rayz experience is the companion app. The Rayz by Pioneer app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, available to download on the App Store, enables you to personalise the earphone’s settings like adjusting audio EQ and programming the smart button. Most importantly, the app creates the ability for Rayz earphones to continually improve with the delivery of new features via the software update interface.